Category Archives: Economics

I have to thank Brian Fallow for his article in the NZ Herald of 28 November to have alerted me to the “Productivity Commission’s” inquiry into how to improve the market for social services. My old nightmare predictions were confirmed. Our neo-liberal … Continue reading →

Dear Andrew Little The commentariat is running hot over your narrow victory in the Labour leadership contest. Bryce Edwards in a most comprehensive piece with many links gives a good summery. And there is the NZ Herald editorial under the headline: Daring policies will … Continue reading →

The editor has opposed toll for over 10 years. He recently was in the High Court in an appeal hearing defending himself against charges for not paying toll on the Northern Gateway toll road. The decision has not come out … Continue reading →

In 1969 I was lucky enough to spend half a year at the University of California at Berkeley. It was the height of the Vietnam war, the civil rights movement and general student unrest shaking the foundations of the complacent American political … Continue reading →

The ‘Heroes’ of all our wars have died in vain, betrayed by today’s government. We are continuously reminded of the democratic freedoms our ancestors lost their lives for on the battlefields, which is the ability of parliament to legislate on behalf of the … Continue reading →

Brian Fallow in the 23 Oct Herald alerts us to a change in economic debate with the publication of the The Piketty Phenomenon a collection of essays dealing with the groundbreaking work of the French economist’s Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century. “His careful … Continue reading →

Could it be a Blessing in Disguise? Many commentators, including this blog, have chastised the government for selling half of its power companies despite strong opposition from the general public. In the early nineties, I myself was involved in a … Continue reading →

Thank God that she made New Zealand small and economically insignificant. Therefore our Prime Minister responsible for our economic direction is only a righteous little Prick. Remember some time back when John Key rubbished and demonised the Greens’ Russell Norman’s … Continue reading →

Dear Gareth Morgan We have followed your contributions to public discussion since the crazy days past 1984 when you were one true blue apostle of Roger Douglas’ neoliberal/neoconservative revolution. Then you seemed to have had sort of an epiphany during your motorbike … Continue reading →

In Saturday’s Herald John Roughan looking at the planned reform of the Resource Management Act suggests that there can be a fair contest between the economy and the environment (read more). He refers to decisions about a tunnel and monorail … Continue reading →